Dear well-wishers and friends,

 

In just a few days, TARA will be represented at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon by two of our very own champions. Find out who they are in this newsletter.

We’re also thrilled to announce that our second Community Intervention Centre will soon be opening its doors. Our homes have welcomed many new beneficiaries, and our first young women from TARA, the "Big Birds," are settling into their new roles and growing more independent each day.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our donors, partners, and team members.

Happy reading and Thank you!

See you at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon!

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Saamir Gupta and Javed Islam, two of our dedicated supporters will be representing TARA at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. This event, known for combining excellence in sports with fundraising offers a major platform to raise awareness about child protection as well as to gather vital funds for our programs.

Since its inception in 2008, the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has raised over Rs. 81.21 Crores (around 10 millions USD) for various noble causes. This year, Saamir and Javed will run for their personal achievement while also representing TARA.

 

Javed, a dedicated social worker, who works at TARA Outreach Centre as a community mobilizer cum Teacher, where he is much loved and admired. Few people know that Javed was one of the very first beneficiaries at TARA Boys. Javed is passionate about running. For him, this marathon is his way to help raise funds so that other children may continue to benefit from it.

Left-Right: Javed in his younger days. Javed today with the children of TARA 

Saamir, a long-time supporter of TARA, is the Vice President of Generative AI Governance at Dow Jones. This year marks his 11th consecutive Delhi Half Marathon! Saamir is also a passionate dancer, traveler, actor, and children’s advocate. Associated with TARA since 2015, he has remained committed to our mission of transforming young lives. Saamir is running this year to raise crucial funds for TARA and help give more children the chance to rewrite their futures.

Left-Right: Saamir during the half marathon in 2016. Saamir with the other participants.

How You Can Help In their mission:

• Donate Now: Your donation can make a big difference.

Donations for the marathon are currently limited to Indian nationals. If you are not an Indian national and would still like to contribute, you can make your donation through this link.

• Spread the Word: Share our mission with your network.

• Cheer on Our Heroes: Join us in supporting Saamir and Javed as they run for change!

Our latest impact assessment is now available — to explore the latest insights and see how we're driving positive change click on the link !

If you’re a regular reader of our newsletters, you might already know that TARA Big Birds has welcomed its very first young women into the program! The Big Birds initiative, which supports young adults as they transition from care into independence, now consists of nine members—five boys and four girls.

Farewell program of (Left to Right) Nandini, Soni, Noorjahan and Kamal from TARA Girls to TARA Big Birds. The girls with the staff of TARA Girls.

Currently, four boys share an apartment in Delhi while Shyamu continues his studies in Ahmedabad.

Meanwhile, the girls, Soni who is in class 10, Nandini in class 11 and Kamal in class 12, and are settling into their new home located at Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar. They recently completed their half-yearly exams and with the arrival of festive season the girls are looking forward for the Diwali celebration —thanks to your continued support.

 

In addition, Noorjahan, who excelled in her Class 12 exams, has just been accepted to university! She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Journalism & Mass Communication at Gautam Buddha University, Noida. Noorjahan stays on campus during the week but returns to the Big Birds' apartment on weekends. We are extremely proud of her achievements and thank all of the sponsors who made this possible!

 

When Noorjahan first arrived at TARA at the age of 9, she spoke neither Hindi nor English and did not have the opportunity to attend school regularly due to her family situation. Her remarkable progress is a beacon of hope and inspiration for other children at TARA.

Top: Noorjahan studying in the library at the university

Bottom: Kamal cooking, Soni studying, everyday life in the apartment

TARA Training Centre (TTC) expands to Tibetan Children’s Village School, Ladakh

TARA Training Centre is expanding its reach into the Northern Province of Jammu and Kashmir. From September 6 - 7, 2024, TTC, represented by Asif Hussain, was invited to facilitate a two-day training workshop on Child Rights, Responsibilities, and Protection at the Tibetan Children’s Village School in Ladakh. The event was organized by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

 

The interactive nature of the workshop proved effective, enabling students from classes 8 and 9, to better understand their rights and equip them to stand up for themselves and others.

 

As we reflect on this experience, we are reminded of the words by Franklin D. Roosevelt :

“We cannot always build the future for our youth,

But we can always build our youth for a better future.”

The TTC team conducting training at the Tibetan Children’s Village School in Ladakh

Your sponsored child has sent you a letter! You can find it in your private donor space. If you would like to reply, please send a letter to give@taraindia.org and we will pass it on.

TARA has welcomed 10 new children in recent months, including some 3 years olds!

As we continue to grow and provide a nurturing environment for these children, we appreciate your generous support to sustain and expand our programs. TARA is funded by private donations, with nearly half coming from kindhearted individuals like you—our most vital source of financial stability.

 

If you know someone who might be interested in making a difference, please share our child sponsorship program. To our current sponsors and donors, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Together, we're changing lives and building brighter futures.

Nandini, Photo by Sofie Knijff

 

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